Bard will be back in park this summer

To be or not to be is no longer the question.

The city’s beloved Shakespeare in the Park plans a return this summer after losing last year’s season to the pandemic, with shows set to run at Central Park’s open-air Delacorte Theater from July 5 through Aug. 29.

“The Delacorte isn’t empty, it’s full of hope that we will be together again this summer,” read a Tuesday tweet from the Public Theater, producer of the shows. “We’re thrilled to be preparing for a safe return to The Delacorte for Free Shakespeare in the Park ... We’ve gathered brilliant artists to imagine summer under the stars.”

The 2021 season will present a new version of “Merry Wives” adapted by Jocelyn Bioh from the Bard’s “Merry Wives of Windsor.” Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director Saheem Ali will direct the play, now set in Harlem.

“I am happy to say the Bard is back in Central Park,” said Mayor de Blasio at a news conference outside the Delacorte. “This is great news. This is positive news. This is hope. This is New York City coming back to life. This is a great harbinger of better things to come in New York City.”

As noted by the producers, the road back wasn’t easy.

“We’ve grieved, Zoomed, innovated, supported our communities, and connected our city,” the announcement read in recounting the last difficult year across the city.

Starting next month, the state plans to allow up to 500 people at outdoor events if the folks in attendance provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test — and the Delacorte seats close to 2,000.

Without the proof, the number of guests is capped at 200.